Cary-Grove d. Huntley 25-12, 25-21

Volleyball | Huntley gives No. 1 Cary-Grove much-needed test

The good news for Huntley's volleyball team was that the Red Raiders gave No. 1 Cary-Grove itsbest game of the season Tuesday night.

The bad news is that the Trojans were hoping for such a game.

Senior outside hitter Kelly Lamberti had eight kills, three aces and the match-winning block, and defending 4A champion Cary-Grove held off a scrappy Huntley team 25-12, 25-21 in the Fox Valley Conference Valley opener for both teams at Cary-Grove.

Cary-Grove (14-0, 1-0) breezed to a 6-0 lead to start the first game and was never challenged. After jumping to a 3-1 lead in the second game, the Trojans found themselves trailing 11-8.

"They're a really good defensive team. And I think we had a lack of focus for a minute," Lamberti said. "Nothing was clicking at that moment. But we definitely handled ourselves well after that."

A Lamberti kill sparked the Trojan offense, and Colleen Smith (20 assists, 3 aces) served the next five points, including an ace to build Cary-Grove's lead to 14-11.

The Red Raiders (8-2, 0-1) grabbed one last lead and stayed close throughout, until junior Ashley Rosch (6 kills) served the final two points, punctuated by sophomore Mallory Wilczynski's late kill. Wilczynski also had three blocks.

"Huntley's a tough team, but that second (game) was just what we wanted to see," Cary-Grove coach Patty Langanis said. "I wanted to see a team that would battle and fight for every point. And to see (junior hitter) Melanie Jereb and Wilczynski and some other new kids step up and show composure, that's a great thing for us."